MiCA licence in the Netherlands: AFM

Who authorises CASPs in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) is the competent authority for the crypto-asset service provider rules in Title V of MiCA when the Netherlands is the home state. It receives Article 62 applications, decides on Article 63 authorisation and receives Article 60 notifications from eligible financial entities. DNB retains defined prudential and ownership-assessment roles.

Lead CASP authority

AFM

Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)

Transition ended

30 June 2025

The Netherlands used a six-month transition.

Authorities in ESMA’s CASP file

1

Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)

White papers notified here

90

80 other crypto-assets (Title II), 10 e-money tokens (Title IV)

The authority link opens the official regulator site. ESMA publishes the interim MiCA register that this page reads, and the searchable CASP register holds every entry from it. The 80 crypto-asset white papers notified in the Netherlands are listed with the rest of the Title II notices.

CASPs authorised in the Netherlands

ESMA’s CASP data dated 6 October 2026 lists 28 current entries with the Netherlands as home state. The earliest authorisation date is 30 December 2024 and the latest is 16 July 2026. Names link to our exchange record where we track the brand, and to the register row otherwise.

The same file shows 1 entry for the Netherlands whose authorisation had ended on the snapshot date: Decubate B.V. (ended 26 March 2026).

Services held by CASPs in the Netherlands

Each bar counts the current entries with the Netherlands as home state that hold the service. Most firms combine several services, so the bars add up to more than 28.

1. aCustody and administration of crypto-assets for clients20
2. bOperation of a trading platform for crypto-assets3
3. cExchange of crypto-assets for funds (fiat)15
4. dExchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets9
5. eExecution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients9
6. fPlacing of crypto-assets0
7. gReception and transmission of orders for clients4
8. hAdvice on crypto-assets1
9. iPortfolio management on crypto-assets4
10. jTransfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients21

Firms passported into the Netherlands

In all, 175 firms authorised in another EEA state may serve residents of the Netherlands. Each one lists the Netherlands as a host state for at least one current service in ESMA’s file, through the Article 65 cross-border notification route. Most come from France (29), Cyprus (20), Malta (18) and Germany (15).

Tracked exchanges in the Netherlands

We track 52 licensed exchange and broker brands. The groups below sort them by ESMA’s home and host states for the Netherlands.

A missing notification means ESMA’s file names no service in the Netherlands for that legal entity. The brand may still reach the Netherlands through another group entity or a later notification, so check the record before you rely on it. Platforms in the last group restrict EEA services or are still applying; see exchanges without a MiCA licence.

Article 110 warnings

ESMA’s Article 110 file dated 16 September 2026 holds 1 entry reported from the Netherlands: entities that provided crypto-asset services without MiCA authorisation. Websites are left out on purpose.

1. MEXC GlobalMEXC16 Sep 20251 website

The MiCA warning list shows every entry with its reporting state and date.

How to apply for a MiCA licence in the Netherlands

A firm with its registered office and effective management in the Netherlands applies to AFM for authorisation under Article 63. The Article 62 file covers the services in scope, governance, at least one EU-resident director, prudential safeguards, safeguarding of client assets, complaints handling and the business continuity and ICT controls that DORA requires.

Credit institutions, investment firms, e-money institutions, UCITS management companies, market operators and other entities listed in Article 60 can instead notify AFM of equivalent services. They must notify at least 40 working days before they first provide the services.

Article 67 sets the requirement at the higher of the Annex IV minimum or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads. The statutory periods cover the regulatory review only: preparation and questions from the authority add time. The CASP licence guide maps the services, documents and process, and the MiCA licence cost guide separates capital from fees and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Sources